Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1080741
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 FEBRUARY 2019 THIS WEEK MUSIC TEODOR RELJIC speaks to Max Vassallo, drummer of fan-favourite local death metal band Abysmal Torment, currently revving themselves up for an upcoming gig following the release of their critically acclaimed latest album, The Misanthrope Teodor Reljic How would you describe the evolution of Abysmal Torment from its inception until now? What has changed along the way, and what were some of the greatest challenges you've faced? I would say the band has evolved at quite a steady, constant and grow- ing pace but somehow still managed to stay true to what we always wanted to achieve with our music which is es- sentially gut pounding, head-banging death metal. Our musical style has changed and matured over the years; we have become more technical, precise and powerful, yet still managed to keep the groove and punch from our earlier releases. Same goes for the line-up. As members come and go, it is sometimes hard to keep up the same drive and energy once a certain bond has been established with current members. Thankfully, this wasn't such an issue in our case. Every- one who was ever part of Abysmal Tor- ment has always been a pleasure and delight to work with while contributing greatly in the evolution of the band, and we are extremely lucky for that. Our biggest challenge to date has been deal- ing with the untimely and unfortunate passing of our dearest brother Wayne Vella, whose absence will always be felt and can never be replaced. He was an influential figure in the metal scene and beyond, probably the best death metal drummer the scene has ever had the pleasure to witness and he was a true inspiration to all that knew him. He is and will be dearly missed. However, Abysmal Torment remains one of the most popular Maltese acts in its genre, even on an international scale. What would you say contributed to this fact, and how do you feel about being something of a reference point for the Maltese metal scene? I think recognising what the listener wants and needs is what creates a per- fect synergy between musicians and listeners. Listening to your audience, understanding the way they react to your music, and accepting criticism and all sorts of suggestions is by far a large contributing factor to any musician's success. Ignoring the fans and what they want is never a good thing. All mu- sicians should remember that a band is never any bigger than its followers, and without their support, aiming for suc- cess is just pointless. We would like to thank all the fans for the constant sup- port and dedication they have shown throughout the years and we applaud them for making Abysmal Torment what it is today. Without all of them we would never be where we are. How would you say that the metal scene Give them the brutality they need "Ignoring the fans and what they want is never a good thing"